Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2

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Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b
F.E.2b in profile
Type	Fighter/Reconnaissance, Night Bomber
Manufacturer	Royal Aircraft Factory
Maiden flight	1914
Retired	1918
Status	Retired
Primary user	Royal Flying Corps
Produced	1914- 1918
Number built	1,939
Variants	(See F.E.1)

The Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 was a two-seat pusher biplane that was operated as a day and night bomber and as a fighter aircraft by the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. Along with the single-seat D.H.2 pusher biplane and the Nieuport 11, the F.E.2 was instrumental in ending the Fokker Scourge that had seen the German Air Service establish a measure of air superiority on the Western Front for much of 1915.

Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational service 3 Operators 4 Specifications (F.E.2b) 5 References 6 Related content

[edit] Design and development

The F.E.2 (Farman Experimental 2, designation actually refers to three distinct designs - although all were pushers based on the general layout employed by the French aviators the Farman Brothers). The first F.E.2 was developed by the Royal Aircraft Factory in 1911 by rebuilding the F.E.1. A further design with the "F.E.2" designation came out in 1913, which was destroyed in a fatal crash when the pilot, R. Kemp lost control while in a dive. ^[1] To avoid confusion - these designs are covered in the article for the F.E.1.

The F.E.2 that appeared in February 1914 was a totally new design, specifically intended as a "fighter". The first production order was placed in August. By this stage, the "pusher" design was becoming obsolete as far as aerodynamic performance was concerned however the RFC had not yet solved the problem of firing a machine gun through the propeller of a tractor aircraft (which the Germans had managed using Anthony Fokker's interrupter gear) and so pushers, with a clear forward view, remained the favoured configuration for fighters.

The F.E.2 was a two-seater with the observer sitting in the nose of the nacelle and the pilot sitting above and behind. The arrangement was described by one pilot as follows:

I sat in a robust throne, rather like a bishop's seat in a cathedral, and my observer sat, or knelt, in a round nacelle about the size of an old fashioned footbath right in front.^{[citation needed]}

The observer was armed with one, and later two, .303 in Lewis machine guns on swivelling mounts. The observer's perch was a precarious one, however, the view was excellent with a wide field of fire. The F.E.2 could also carry a small external bomb load.

The first production batch was for 12 of the F.E.2a which was quickly replaced by the main production model, the F.E.2b which was powered by a Beardmore liquid-cooled inline engine, initially a 120 hp (89 kW) version while later F.E.2bs received the 160 hp (119 kW) Beardmore. A total of 1,939 F.E.2b/cs were built ^[2]. The Aircaft Factory built only a few, construction was by British manufactures with G & J Weir, Boulton & Paul Ltd and Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies being the greatest contributors

The F.E.2c was a night fighter and bomber variant of the F.E.2b, the main change being the switching of the pilot and observer positions so that the pilot had the best view for night landings. Two were built in 1916, with the designation being re-used in 1918 for a similar night bomber version of the F.E.2b^[3]. One experimental F.E.2b involved the mounting of a generator-powered light attached between the two .303 inch (7.7 mm) Lewis guns. ^[4]

The final model was the "long-span" F.E.2d (386 built) which was powered by a Rolls-Royce Eagle engine with 250 hp (186 kW). While the more powerful engine made little difference in the performance at low altitude, it did allow greater performance at altitude, with an extra ten mph at 5,000 ft ^[2]. By the time the FE.2d reached service, it was outperformed by German fighters, consequently, defensive armament was enhanced by fitting a second Lewis gun mounted on a pole that could be fired over the tail of the aircraft. However, the observer was required to stand on his seat in order to fire this weapon. In addition, some aircraft had a fixed forward-firing Lewis gun operated by the pilot.

[edit] Operational service

The F.E.2b entered service in September 1915 with No. 6 Squadron RFC^[2]. In service, about two thirds of the F.E.2s were operated as fighters (816) and one third as bombers (395)^[5]. The F.E.2b and F.E.2c variants remained in day operations well into 1917 and as night bombers until August 1918. At its peak, the F.E.2b equipped 16 RFC squadrons in France and six Home Defence squadrons in England.

On 18 June 1916, German ace Max Immelmann was killed while in combat with F.E.2bs of No. 25 Squadron RFC. The squadron claimed the kill, but the German version is either that Immelmann's Fokker Eindecker broke up after his interrupter gear failed and he shot off his own propeller, or that he was hit by "friendly fire" from German anti-aircraft guns.

In combat with single seater fighters the pilots of FE2's would form a "merry go round" of planes, circling . In this manner the gunner of each aircraft could cover the aircraft in front and several gunners could fire on any plane attacking the group.

By the autumn of 1916, the arrival of more modern Germen fighters such as the Albatros D.I and Halberstadt meant that the F.E.2b was outperformed and by April 1917 had been withdrawn from offensive patrols. Despite its obsolescence by 1917, the F.E.2 was still well-liked by its crews for durability and remained a difficult opponent for even the best German aces. Rittmeister Baron von Richthofen was badly wounded in the head when attacking an F.E.2 during June 1917.

Although outclassed as a day fighter, the F.E.2 proved very suitable for use at night, and was used both as a night fighter in home defence squadrons on anti-Zeppelin patrols, and as a night bomber. It was first used as a night bomber in November 1916^[6], with dedicated bomber sqaudrons being formed in February 1917. F.E.2s continued to be heavily used as night bombers in eight bomber squadrons until the end of World War I, with up to 860 being converted to, or built as, bombers^[6].

F.E.2s fitted with flotation bags for operation over water, were also used to conduct anti-submarine patrols operating out of the Isle of Grain at the mouth of the Thames River. ^[7]

Derek Robinson's novel War Story is centred around his fictional Hornet Squadron flying the F.E.2b, and later the F.E.2d, and gives a realistic, albeit darkly humorous account of flying the F.E.2 in the months leading up to the Battle of the Somme.

[edit] Operators

• United Kingdom
  • Royal Flying Corps
  • Royal Air Force

[edit] Specifications (F.E.2b)

Data from Warplanes of the First World War: Fighters, Volume Two^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: two, pilot & observer
• Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
• Wingspan: 47 ft 9 in (14.55 m)
• Height: 12 ft 8 in (3.85 m)
• Wing area: 494 ft² (45.9 m²)
• Empty weight: 2,061 lb (937 kg)
• Loaded weight: 3,037 lb (1380 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Beardmore six cylinder inline piston engine, 160 hp (119 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 80 knots (91.5 mph, 147 km/h)
• Range: three hours endurance ()
• Service ceiling: 11,000 ft (3353 m)
• Rate of climb: 39 minutes 44 sec to 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
• Wing loading: 6.15 lb/ft² (30.1 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.053 hp/lb (0.086 W/kg)

Armament

• 1 or 2x .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun for observer (1 mounted in front & 1 on a pole firing over the top wing)
• 1 or 2x .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun for pilot in later versions
• up to 517 lb (235 kg) of bombs

[edit] References

• Bruce, J.M. Warplanes of the First World War: Fighters, Volume Two. London: MacDonald & Co., 1968. ISBN 0-365-01473-8.
• Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter Since 1912. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7.
• Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber Since 1914. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1994. ISBN 0-85177 861-5.
• Winchester, Jim. "Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2." Biplanes, Triplanes and Seaplanes (Aviation Factfile). London: Grange Books plc, 2004. ISBN 1-84013-641-3.

[edit] Related content

Related development: Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.1

Comparable aircraft: Vickers F.B.5 - Airco DH.1

Designation sequence: F.E.1 - F.E.2 - F.E.3 - F.E.4 - F.E.6